Apple tree named &#39;MAIA-T&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of apple was identified from a population of seedlings derived from an open-pollinated ‘Honeycrisp’ block. The new variety, named ‘MAIA-T,’ is distinct from ‘Honeycrisp’ as ‘MAIA-T’ ripens mid-September, 2 weeks after ‘Honeycrisp.’ Unlike ‘Honeycrisp,’ ‘MAIA-T’ has purple skin, yellow ground color, and considerable russet. ‘MAIA-T’ fruit are medium sized, crisp, with more complex, sweet-tart flavors than ‘Honeycrisp.’ ‘MAIA-T’ does not maintain crisp texture in 35° F. storage for as long as ‘Honeycrisp.’

Latin name: Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Malus x domestica.

Variety denomination: Variety denomination: ‘MAIA-T’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct variety of apple was identified from a population of seedlings derived from an open-pollinated ‘Honeycrisp’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197) block. This pollination was sanctioned as a part of the Midwest Apple Improvement Association apple breeding project. ‘Honeycrisp’ and other select varieties were cultivated with the intention of progeny testing open-pollinated seedlings. This superior seedling tree was identified from this progeny test at Pataskala, Ohio.

The seedling tree was planted as a 1-year-old tree at a commercial fruit orchard in Pataskala, Ohio in 2001 and grown among a population of several hundred siblings. Evaluations of fruit quality and tree growth parameters were begun in 2005 and this seedling was identified over several years as superior based upon tree growth habit, precocity, superior fruit quality, and harvest time. Utilizing grafting reproduction, the new apple tree variety was asexually propagated by Mitch Lynd in 2010 in Pataskala, Ohio and has been observed to remain true to the description set forth herein, through successive generations.

The new variety, named ‘MAIA-T,’ is distinct from ‘Honeycrisp’ as ‘MAIA-T’ ripens mid-September, 2 weeks after ‘Honeycrisp’ (FIG. 1). Unlike ‘Honeycrisp,’ ‘MAIA-T’ has purple skin, yellow ground color, and considerable russet (R.H.S. Color Chart Red-Purple 60A, Yellow-Orange 16B, and Yellow-Orange 22A, respectively). ‘MAIA-T’ fruit (FIGS. 2 & 3) are medium sized, crisp, with more complex, sweet-tart flavors than ‘Honeycrisp.’ ‘MAIA-T’ does not maintain crisp texture in 35° F. storage for as long as ‘Honeycrisp’ (FIG. 1).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety depicted in color as true as is reasonably possible. ‘MAIA-T’ photographs were taken at Pataskala, Ohio. FIG. 1 was created from harvest data from Pataskala, Ohio, and storage data from Carrollton, Ohio.

FIG. 1. A chart showing that ‘MAIA-T’ is distinct from ‘Honeycrisp’ in harvest and storage windows.

FIG. 2. An image of typical fruit of ‘MAIA-T’ at harvest time.

FIG. 3. An image of typical ‘MALA-T’ trees bearing fruit in September in Ohio.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (R.H.S.) 2001 Edition.

-   Parentage: ‘Honeycrisp’ female parent and unknown male parent; open     pollination conditions cultivated by Mitch Lynd at Pataskala, Ohio     in 1999. -   Grafted tree on B9 rootstock (reference tree):     -   -   Age.—12 years.         -   Size.—15′ height, 8′ spread.         -   Vigor.—Medium.         -   Form.—Round, spreading.         -   Production.—Very productive.         -   Growth type.—Spindle tree growth form, productive spurs             located throughout tree.         -   Bearing.—Annual. -   Trunk:     -   -   Reference tree.—3.5cm at 15 cm height.         -   Bark color.—Greyed-Brown 199A.         -   Lenticels.—Oblong, 3×1 mm.         -   Lenticel color.—Greyed-Brown N199D.         -   Lenticel density.—2 lenticels/cm². -   Branches:     -   -   3 year old.—8-9 mm in diameter, branch angle 80-90°;             Greyed-Brown 199A.         -   2 year old.—5-6 mm in diameter, branch angle 60°;             Greyed-Green 197A.         -   1 year old.—4-5 mm in diameter, branch angle 60-80°;             Grey-Orange 166A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Length 70-115 mm; width 45-65 mm.         -   Texture.—Leathery, crisp, wavy.         -   Form.—Ovate.         -   Base.—Roundly cuneate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Adaxial surface.—Pubescence: None.         -   Abaxial pubescence.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Adaxial surface color.—Green Group N137B.         -   Abaxial surface color.—Green Group 143A.         -   Veination.—Pinnate, 7-9 major veins, mainly alternate;             Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Petiole length.—20-35 mm.         -   Petiole width.—2 mm.         -   Petiole abaxial color.—Yellow-Green 144B to Greyed-Purple             183A toward base.         -   Petiole groove.—Very shallow, depth 0.1 mm.         -   Stipules.—Present; 8-12 mm length; 1.5 mm width; Green Group             143A.         -   Leaf glands.—None observed. -   Leaf buds:     -   -   Length.—4-5 mm.         -   Width.—4 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green 149B with Greyed-Orange 166A overtones.         -   Placement on branch.—Alternate.         -   Internode distance.—20-30 mm. -   Spurs: Present on 2yr and older wood.     -   -   Length.—varies from 8 to 150 mm.         -   Relative proportion of spurs of each length.—100-150 mm=2.             50-99 mm=2. 8-49 mm=7.         -   Width.—4-7 mm. -   Flowers at popcorn stage:     -   -   Pedicel.—Length 9-11 mm; width 2 mm.         -   Pedicel color.—Green Group 198A.         -   Bud.—Length 11-12 mm; width 8-11 mm. -   Flowers at full bloom:     -   -   Bloom time.—Blooms slightly before ‘Golden Delicious.’ Bloom             time varies with temperature, but is typically during the             4th week of April in northeast Ohio.         -   Bloom period.—Approximately 7 days.         -   Presentation.—Showy.         -   Fragrance.—Aromatic.         -   Fertility.—Fertile.         -   Number of flowers per cluster.—5-6 with 5 typical. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Bases not overlapping; 5 petals per flower;             each petal 20-24 mm length, 14-15 mm width.         -   Color.—Upper surface (inside) White Group NN155D; Lower             surface (outside) slightly colored, Greyed-Green NN155C with             Red-Purple 61A.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate with occasional notching and ruffling.         -   Veins.—Distinct.         -   Margins.—Ruffled edges with notching ⅔ up the petal.         -   Texture.—Soft.         -   Receptacle.—Length 3-4 mm; width 3-3.5 mm; color             Greyed-Purple 184B.         -   Pedicel.—Length 8-10 mm; width 2-2.5 mm; color Greyed-Green             197B.         -   Sepals.—5/flower; wedge-shaped, sharply pointed; length 5-6             mm; width 3-4 mm at widest point; adaxial and abaxial color             Greyed-Green 197A.         -   Stamens.—16-18 in number.         -   Anthers.—Length 1.5-2 mm; width 1-1.5 mm; color Yellow Group             2D.         -   Petal apex.—Predominantly rounded with some fluting.         -   Pollen.—Present and abundant; color Yellow Group 10C.         -   Filaments.—Length 6-7 mm; width 0.5-1 mm; color Greyed-Green             157B.         -   Pistil.—Held above the anthers in majority of blossoms;             color Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Ovary.—Length 2.5 mm; width 2.5 mm; color Green Group 143B.         -   Style.—Length 12-13 mm; styles are fused in bottom 4 mm             only; width 0.5 mm; color Yellow-Green 144B.         -   Stigma.—Width 0.5-1 mm; held above the anther in the             majority of blossoms; color Yellow-Green 151B. -   Pollination requirements: Requires cross-pollination from diploid     varieties with overlapping bloom; will pollinate diploid varieties     of overlapping bloom. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—3 month storage.         -   Date of picking.—Sep. 30, 2016.         -   Size.—Axial diameter 68-89 mm; Transverse diameter shortest             point 35-50 mm; Transverse diameter longest point 59-70 mm.         -   Fruit weight.—162-240 g; Average 194 g.         -   Form.—Roundish, oblate, conic, side unequal.         -   Cavity.—Acute, deep, light russet in cavity.         -   Basin.—Shallow, relative to other variety, wide, smooth,             regular.         -   Calyx.—Closed, tight. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Tendency to crack.—Little.         -   Stripes.—Heavy striping, russet.         -   Lenticels.—Irregular.         -   Color.—Red-Purple 60A.         -   Ground color.—Yellow-Orange 16B.         -   Russet color.—Yellow-Orange 22A. -   Flesh:     -   -   Aroma.—Sweet, aromatic.         -   Color.—Yellow-White 158A.         -   Texture.—Crisp, firm, breaking, juicy.         -   Eating quality.—Excellent.         -   Flavor.—Sweet-tart, honeyed/scented. -   Core: Small.     -   -   Bundle area.—1520 mm²-2400 mm².         -   Bundle.—Conspicuous.         -   Axial carpel length.—6-10 mm.         -   Locule.—Closed.         -   Seed cells.—Walls thin, tough. -   Seeds:     -   -   Number perfect.—6-11.         -   Number in one cell.—1-2.         -   Length.—7-9 mm.         -   Breadth.—4-5 mm.         -   Color.—Greyed-Orange 165A. -   Stem:     -   -   Length.—13-26 mm.         -   Average length.—20 mm.         -   Width.—2-4 mm.         -   Color.—Greyed-Green 194B. -   Use: Fresh market, dessert. -   Shipping quality: Good. -   Keeping quality: Moderate. -   Drought tolerance: Average for domestic apple. -   Tree winter hardiness: Average for domestic apple. -   Disease:     -   -   Resistance.—Slight resistance to fireblight (Erwinia             amylovora) and apple scab (Venturia inaequalis).         -   Susceptibility.—Susceptible to powdery mildew (Podosphaera             leucotricha) and other fungal diseases. -   Yield: Approximately 2.5 bushel/tree at 300 trees/acre yields 750     bushels/acre annually. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new, distinct apple tree variety named ‘MAIA-T’, as illustrated and described herein. 